Footballers warm up for Istanbul (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Footballers warm up for Istanbul

2:57pm Wednesday 14th April 2010 in

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ELEVEN Special Olympic athletes from Halton will take part in a football tournament later this month at Istanbul.

The players, all from the Special Olympics Halton club, will represent the British Unified football team in a seven-a-side competition.

Unified Football brings together players with learning disabilities, and those without, into one team in order to break down social barriers that people with learning difficulties often face.

The players taking part are John Campbell, Ellis Snape, Mark Bellfield, Gerard Conroy, William Martin and Stephen Law.

Their fully able partners are David Burns, Samuel North, Keegan Shard, James Shelly and Nathan Johnson.

Special Olympics Halton chairman Andy Shard said: “For most of the players it’s a dream come true.

“Up until about two years ago there wasn’t any football in the Special Olympics.

“Unified Football allows friends and families to compete with the less able, but they are the most competitive matches you will ever see.

“We want a medal because we are representing our country.

“This is massive for the team and the borough.”

Special Olympics Halton is a multi sports club that caters for more than 130 members in a wide variety of different sports.

“They have produced a handful of national and international athletes who have competed all over the world.

Former Olympic champion Katharine Merry presented the football team with their kit at a special send off event at Brookvale Recreation Centre in Murdishaw, Runcorn.